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Nikolai Kulemin to arbitration

Looks like Kulemin willing be heading to arbitration. Sounds like Kulemin wants a long term deal (3-4 years)...sounds like he is looking for a raise from his $2.2 million ($2.35 cap hit). Should be interesting to see what comes of this. I'd sign him to another 1 year deal to let him prove himself and decide from there next year. After this season, Kulemin only has 1 year left being an RFA.

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. After the ****** year he just had, he won't get a very significant raise, if he gets one at all.

I think whether you sign him to a longer term deal depends on what you see in him. I think I'd offer him a 4 year deal in the low 3s range like 3.15-3.35 or something and have him decide if that's what he wants. If he scores 30 goals and 60 points again, he's worth a lot more than 3.35 million per...

Between this year and last it seems as i this kid and his agent are a son of a ***** when it comes to contract talks. I'm pretty much banking on the fact that he'll revert back to atleast a 20 goal scorer. His forechecking and pursuit of the puck are so much fun to watch. Hardly ever loses a puck battle. I'd like to sign him long term but it may not be a bad idea to do another one year deal and let him prove last year was a fluke like was already mentioned in an above post.

This is a sticky situation. As fans we know what he can do but we also know that he can fail to put up numbers. Consistancy is an issue, and it is with most guys. I like Kulemins all around game and I think its clear that both sides want to accomplish a deal before arbitration. He'll get a raise, whether he deserves one or not, but I can definitely see a 1yr deal come at just a bit above what he made last year as a proving season. Then as an RFA again next season they can renegotiate based on what he puts out next year.

He'll be awarded a 1 year, 3 mil contract. I believe Mac was awarded a 3.1 mil contract, when he was with Buffalo. So i tend to believe Klue will get roughly around the same.
Klue will go off and score 20 this yr, then Burke will sign him to a 5 yr 4.5 mil dollar contract, when he should have signed him this yr to a 4-5 yr contract around 3-3.5 mil contract.

He'll be awarded a 1 year, 3 mil contract. I believe Mac was awarded a 3.1 mil contract, when he was with Buffalo. So i tend to believe Klue will get roughly around the same.
Klue will go off and score 20 this yr, then Burke will sign him to a 5 yr 4.5 mil dollar contract, when he should have signed him this yr to a 4-5 yr contract around 3-3.5 mil contract.

He'll be awarded a 1 year, 3 mil contract. I believe Mac was awarded a 3.1 mil contract, when he was with Buffalo. So i tend to believe Klue will get roughly around the same. Klue will go off and score 20 this yr, then Burke will sign him to a 5 yr 4.5 mil dollar contract, when he should have signed him this yr to a 4-5 yr contract around 3-3.5 mil contract.

Can't say for certain that this will happen, but I'd say the signs point to it happening. He's a 26 year old who's a home grown talent (we drafted and developed). As a rookie he had 31pts, then 36pts, then 57 pts, and then an off year. We should see it as an opportunity to sign this guy at a reasonable number. After what we saw on July 1st this year, what do you think he'll be asking if he scores between 20-30 goals next year, 40-50 pts, and continues to show the tenacity and hard work he puts in every night? Plus, he really wants to be here... as much as we think that it should be a given, more guys seem to be opting for Florida, Anaheim, LA, Carolina (warm climate) where they have a relatively normal life while still playing on a competitive team.

He'll be awarded a 1 year, 3 mil contract. I believe Mac was awarded a 3.1 mil contract, when he was with Buffalo. So i tend to believe Klue will get roughly around the same.
Klue will go off and score 20 this yr, then Burke will sign him to a 5 yr 4.5 mil dollar contract, when he should have signed him this yr to a 4-5 yr contract around 3-3.5 mil contract.

Now you're assuming Kule was only asking for 3.5 mil. I honestly think Burke is playing hard ball because Kule is asking for 4 mil or more, burke wants him to prove he can put up 50 pts again before he secures him long term. I see this as a win/win situation for us. If he only scores 30-40 pts we can lock him for long term for around 3 mil.

No way Kulemin would take a multi year contract at $3.0-3.5 a year when he could be a UFA after 2 more years. The best thing for both sides is a 1 year deal to give Kulemin the opportunity to show that last year was just a bad year. If he bounces back and puts up 50 points I think a longer term deal will be worked out.